3 DC Firefighters Test Positive For Coronavirus

WASHINGTON, DC — Chief Gregory M. Dean of D.C. Fire and EMS confirmed Thursday that three firefighters in his department have presumptive positive tests for the new coronavirus, also known as COVID-19.

"The health and safety of our residents and our members has been my top priority," Dean said, during a press conference of Mayor Muriel Bowser's emergency management team. "I can confirm for you that we've had three members who have tested positive for COVID-19."

The D.C. Health Department confirmed eight new positive cases Wednesday night, bringing the total of positive coronavirus cases in the District to 39. Bowser said that number was expected to go up when D.C. Health released official totals at 7 p.m.

Health officials are currently monitoring 141 individuals who came in close contact the firefighters for symptoms and any testing that may occur.

Fire officials had only learned about the third positive test about an hour before the press conference, so Dean did not have numbers on how many other D.C. Fire and EMS employees were affected.

"D.C. Health is also contact tracing all patients that are presumptive positive members treated or transports to the hospital when they were in the contagious phase," Dean said. "The department has implemented an infectious control group working very closely with D.C. Health, so that we can assist them in monitoring and evaluating our members."

Dean asked the public to call 9-1-1 only for an emergency and not because they are experiencing symptoms of COVID-19.

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"If you have a cough, sore throat, fever, stuffy runny nose, those are considered non-life threatening," he said. "We would ask that you contact your doctor and your clinic and talk with them versus calling 9-1-1 and exposing yourself or members and the hospital staff to this."

According to Dean, healthy members of D.C. Fire and EMS have volunteered to backfill the positions vacated by ill firefighters.

D.C. Police Chief Peter Newsham also spoke at Thursday's press conference. As of yet, no members of the Metropolitan Police Department have tested positive for the coronavirus.

Although no positive cases have been reported by the Department of Corrections, 65 inmates are currently quarantined because they had come into contact in D.C. Superior Court with a U.S. Marshal who had tested positive for COVID-19.

D.C. Health used contact tracing to identify which inmates needed to be quarantined. One inmate exhibited symptoms and the test results are pending.

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